{"id":14551,"date":"2016-10-06T04:02:16","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T09:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lisatener.local\/?p=14551"},"modified":"2024-09-30T08:58:35","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T12:58:35","slug":"buddha-everywhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jodieburdette.net\/lisatener\/2016\/10\/buddha-everywhere\/","title":{"rendered":"Buddha Everywhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m struck by the sheer number of Buddha sculptures\u2014especially the golden Buddhas\u2014in every Buddhist temple I visit here in Bangkok.<\/p>\n

\"Reclining
Reclining Buddha<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Buddhas
Buddhas at Wat Pho<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each Buddha inspires with its serene expression, sublime curves and often bejeweled base.<\/p>\n

But why so many?<\/p>\n

\"Buddhas
Buddhas at Ayutthaya in the ancient capital<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Buddhas everywhere you look.<\/p>\n

Surrounding the halls and courtyards of a temple housing a major, often colossal, Buddha, I find dozens, even hundreds of other Buddhas, far too many to contemplate. This is true in the 200+ year old temples I visited in Bangkok and the many thousand year old ruins in the ancient capital of Ayutthaya.<\/p>\n

I guessed that maybe creating the Buddha statues is, in itself, a powerful way to connect and experience the many qualities of Buddha. Still, there had to be more of a reason.<\/p>\n

Perhaps these Buddhas remind us we can see Buddha everywhere we turn\u2014in the experiences we encounter, the people we meet, the thoughts we have.<\/p>\n